Electric rocking chair

ABSTRACT

An electric rocking chair equipped with an electric device engendering automatically an in and out movement of the chair without there being a push by the user. The chair includes an armature deposited on the top of a support base containing a displacement device. The armature is fixed to the base in pivots allowing to move the chair front to back by means of a seesaw operation. The device includes an electric engine coupled with a reducer at the output of which is fixed a wheel to which a belt causes the moving of a horizontal arm with an elbow which acts on the armature so as to produce the in and out movement of the chair. A control lever within reach of a user allows to command the engine and to engage the in and out movement or to stop it. Another version involving a cam arrangement is provided.

PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a previous provisional U.S. 61/457,001 “Electric rocking chair” filed on Dec. 6, 2010 by the same authors.

The following applications drew our attention:

U.S. Ser. No. 12/546,818 <<Motorized rocking chair moved in a pendulum manner>> by Lung-Tan SHIH and published on Mar. 3, 2011. It shows a rocking chair comprising an armature, a swivelling seat standing above a frame, and a control system located between the frame and the seat and allowing to move the seat according to the frame in a rocking movement. The rocking movement is made according to a suspended pivot 131, 2 and is electrically controlled by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rocking chairs domain for which the rocking is electrically produced, without intervention of a user.

In our case the rocking movement is led by a cam located under the chair and controlled by a motor and an electronic box with parameters.

CN 201213602 <<Rocking mechanism of electric rocking chair or electric rocking bed>> by Shengzhi HUANG and published on Apr. 1, 2009. It shows a rocking system for bed or rocking chair and activated by a spring.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES

An objective of the present invention is to supply a device capable of inciting an in and out movement to a rocking chair for adult.

Another objective is to supply a support base fixed on pivot points to the armature of the chair, and which includes a displacement device of the chair comprising an angled horizontal arm acting on pivot points and so producing the displacement of the chair. The arm is electrically energized.

The present invention includes:

1. An armature of a single rocking chair or of a multiplace rocking chair with on its base four feet.

2. A support base for the armature is fixed under the armature on pivoting points and possesses four upright corners inwardly oriented. In the support base an electric device is installed and is intended to move in both directions the armature of the chair in the pivoting points.

3. To supply the in and out movement of the armature, a horizontal arm attached to a cam pushes the armature of the chair from front to back. The cam has a shaft sliding along a wheel commanded by a reducer,

4. The arm possesses an elbow which allows to push and to pull the armature without interfering with the bottompart of the armature.

5. A transformer producing 208 volts of an electric motor coupled with a 60 rpm reducer turning the wheel on which a belt can slide or a cam controlled by a connecting rod can be fixed.

The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a rocking device.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 are two side views of a chair positionned straight and oblique.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a chair over its device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the rocking device of a four place rocking chair.

FIG. 6 is an alternative of FIG. 1 commanded by a connecting rod.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a cam connected to a motor-reducer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description and in the accompanying drawings, the numeral numbers refer to identical parts in the various Figures.

FIG. 1 shows an electric rocking chair on which a displacement device 30 is positioned over a base support 22 installed under the chair. The displacement device 30 comprises a transformer 32 producing a 208V voltage which feeds an electric motor 34 coupled with a reducer 36 over which a cam 38 and its arm 28 are fixed. The arm 28 is circumferencially moving around a wheel 26 controlled by a belt 24. The arm 28 of the cam is ending by a cam pivot 40 which pushes an horizontal arm 42 comprising an elbow 44 and terminating with a hand 43. The horizontal arm seizes a perpedicular link of the seat the feet thereof being adapted to join bottom pivots 50 and 51. One sees means of back seesaw 48 predicting a vertical position of the chair, and means of front seesaw 58 possessing a pivot point 51 mobile and predicting an oblique position of the chair. The means of back seesaw 48 include two pivots, the pivot point 50 on the bottom being mobile and a fixed pivot point 52 on the top and connected to a upright corner 54 of the base support. The base support comprises four upright corners inwardly directed to keep smaller the surface in contact with the armature for a better stability of the chair.

The displacement device 30 is kept near the level of the floor.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 showing the base support 22, the horizontal arm 42 ended with the hand 43 seizing a horizontal link 45 of the seat. One sees the electric motor 34 coupled with the reducer 36 controling means of pulley 60 commanding the belt 24 and turning the wheel 26 supported by a shaft 27. The upright corner 54, the means of back seesaw 48 and the means of front seesaw 58 are also shown.

FIG. 3A shows the back of the chair in a straight position 82. At the foot of the back, the hinge 84 allows to switch in the oblique position. One sees a reinforcement 86 and a button 88. The reinforcement 86 is intended to receive an impulse from the horizontal arm 42 and the button is intended to start up the motor causing the movement of the arm.

FIG. 3B shows an electric chair 62 with a back in a lengthened position 72, a seat 64 possessing an armrest 66 and including feet 70 put down on a reversed C-shaped support 74, the legs of the C being 76,78. One sees means of front 58 and back 48 seesaw in a position allowing the chair to rock behind. The upright corners 54 and 54′ appear from the base 22.

FIG. 4 shows an electric rocking chair 20 with a straight back 82, an armature 25 put on the base support 22, and back 21 and front 23 legs. The back leg 21 is connected to the means of back seesaw 48 and the front leg 23 is connected to the means of front seesaw 58. The back leg is linked to the bottom pivot 50 and the front leg is linked to the bottom pivot 51. The armature 25 of the chair, the horizontal link 45, the upright corners 54, 54′ and a hidden box 90 are also shown.

FIG. 5 shows a four place rocking chair 92 with a frame 94, an arm of rocking 96 leading an in and out movement on a tie 97 connected to a top frame. The top frame is made of tubes 98 in reversed U-shape into which fit wheels 99 to slide therein.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative of FIG. 1 in which the cam 38 is connected to a connecting rod 29 which is connected to the horizontal arm 42 through a pivot 41 of the connecting rod. The horizontal arm includes the elbow 44 and ends with the hand 43. The motor-reducer 34,36 is put on a support plate 39. One sees a hub 37 at a end of the reducer 36.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the cam 38 linked to the connecting rod 29 connected to the arm 42 through the pivot 41. One sees the electric motor 34 coupled with the reducer 36.

SUMMARY

An electric rocking chair comprising:

-   -   Mean of support comprising at least two upright corners 54,54′         positioned behind and in front of the support;         -   The means of support comprise a rectangular frame comprising             four upright corners with two in front and two behind.     -   A pair of pendulums comprising means of back seesaw 48 and means         of front seesaw 58 pivotedly mounted on the top pivot points         52,53 in the upright corners. Means of seasaw 48,58 also         comprising bottom pivots 50,51.     -   The seat includes an armature 25 consisting of back and front         legs 21,23 intended to be supported at those pivot points 50,51.         The seat comprises a link of seat 45 on which a strength will be         exercised to lead an in and out movement of the seat.     -   Means to apply a rotating energy and means of cam 38 to         transform a rotative energy into a translative energy against         the link of seat for making it move front behind. The action of         the legs on the pendulums causes a rocking movement of the         chair;         -   The armature of the chair is connected to legs which are             bent in a convex way to move closer the bottom pivots 50,51             with regards to top pivots 52,53.         -   The means to apply an energy comprise a motor 34 controlling             a reducer 36 coupled with a pulley 60 which by a belt 24             leads a wheel 26 which leads the means of cam;         -   The means of cam include an arm of cam 28 radially mounted             on a wheel 26 and supporting a pivot 40 of cam pivotedly             connected to a horizontal arm 42 acting on the link of seat             45.         -   The horizontal arm includes an elbow 44 to protect             neighbouring structures from any breaking or scratches             during the rise and the descent of the pendulum. The             horizontal arm includes a hand 43 intended to seize the link             of seat 45.         -   Another way to induce a rocking movement is to connect a cam             to the motor-reducer. The motor-reducer will turn the cam             connected to a connecting rod 29 connected to the skeleton             of the chair.

It is to be clearly understood that the instant description with reference to the annexed drawing is made in an indicative manner and that the preferred embodiments described herein are meant in no way to limit further embodiments realizable within the scope of the invention. The matter which is claimed as being inventive and new is limited only by the following claims.

PARTS 20 Electric rocking chair 52 Top pivot at the back 21 Back leg 53 Top pivot at the front 22 Base support 54, 54′ Upright corners 23 Front leg 58 Means of front seesaw 24 Belt 60 Means of pulley 25 Armature 62 Chair with a back straight 26 Wheel 64 Seat 27 Shaft 66 Armrest 28 Arm of a cam 68, 70 Legs of the seat 29 Connecting rod 72 Lengthened back 30 Displacement device 74 C-shaped Support 32 Transformer 76, 78 Legs of a C-shaped support 34 Electric motor 82 Straight back 36 Reducer 86 Reinforcement 37 Hub 88 Button 38 Cam 90 Box 39 Support plate 92 4-place rocking chair 40 Cam pivot 94 Frame of a 4-place rocking chair 42 Horizontal arm 96 Arm of rocking 43 Hand 97 Tie 44 Elbow 98 Tubes in a reversed-U shape 45 Horizontal link of the 99 Wheels of the 4-place seat rocking chair 48 Means of back seesaw 50 Back bottom pivot point 51 Front bottom pivot point 41 Pivot of the connecting rod 

1. An electric rocking chair comprising: means of support (22) comprising at least two upright corners (54,54′) positioned respectivelly at the back and at the front of said support; a pair of pendulum (48,58) pivotedly mounted (52,53) at top ends of said upright corners and comprising bottom pivots (50,51); a seat comprising an armature (25) comprising a link of seat (45) and front and back legs (21,23) intended to be fixed at said bottom pivots (50,51); Means to apply a rotative energy and means of cam (38) to transform said rotative energy into a translative energy against said link of seat to make it move from front to back, the weight of said front and back legs on said pair of pendulums causing a rocking movement of said electric rocking chair.
 2. The rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said means of support (22) comprise a rectangular frame comprising four upright corners with two at the front and two at the back.
 3. The rocking chair of claim 2 wherein said pendulums, said legs and said pivots number four.
 4. The rocking chair of claim 2 wherein said means to apply energy comprise a motor (34) controlling a reducer (36) coupled to a pulley (60) which by a belt (24) pulls a wheel (26) pulling said means of cam.
 5. The rocking chair of claim 4 wherein said means of cam comprise an arm (28) of cam radially mounted on said wheel and supporting a pivot (40) of cam pivotedly connected to a horizontal arm (42) acting on said link (45) of seat.
 6. The rocking chair of claim 5 wherein said horizontal arm comprises an elbow (44) to protect neighbouring structures from scratches or breaking during the rise and the ascent of said pendulums.
 7. The rocking chair of claim 5 wherein said horizontal arm comprises a hand (43) intended to seize said link (45) of seat.
 8. The rocking chair of claim 3 wherein said armature (25) is linked to curved legs in a convex way to move closer bottom pivots (50,51) with regard to top pivots (52,53).
 9. The rocking chair of claim 3 wherein said motor-reducer (34,36) is connected on said means of cam (38) and fixed on a connecting rod (29) linked to a horizontal arm (42) through a pivot (41).
 10. The rocking chair of claim 9 wherein said horizontal arm comprises an elbow (44) to protect neighbouring structures from scratches or breaking during the rise and the ascent of said pendulums.
 11. The rocking chair of claim 9 wherein said horizontal arm comprises a hand (43) intended to seize said link (45) of seat.
 12. The rocking chair of claim 9 wherein said pivot (41) is a bearing.
 13. The rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said upright corners stand on a rubber base to protect scratches. 